Ancient Israel

1. Ancient Israel

2. The Arab – Israeli Conflict. • This war has been going on for thousands of years… • Its roots lie in competition for land, property, spiritual rights, attention, proof of cultural superiority etc. • It is enshrined in essence in a Bible legend…..

3. Historical Overview • Ancient Israel is the birthplace of the 3 great monotheistic religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity and Islam • Ancient Israel dates back approximately 4000 years to the books of the Old Testament • Great patriarchs of Judaism: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua • Hebrews, Israelites, Jews, Semites: have all undergone persecution throughout history; from Babylonian Captivity, Exodus, Diaspora, Spanish Inquisition, Holocaust

4. What is in a name? • Hebrew means “From across”- name given to Abraham and his followers • Israelites: Abraham’s grandson Jacob renamed Israel which means “he who has wrestled with God”. His descendants were called “Israelites” • Jews: named after Jacob’s son Judah, ancient father of tribe of King David’s dynasty

5. Nomadic tribes wandered into Palestine from east in approximately 1900 BCE Mesopotamian society dominated by polytheism God (Yahweh) appeared before Patriarch Abraham and told Abraham “to go and raise a great nation” This began the monotheistic tradition of the Hebrew faith with the establishment of the “Covenant”, “Chosen People” and “Promised Land” Abraham settled in Canaan Story: Sacrifice of Abraham Tracing Roots of Israel’s History

7. Jacob (grandson of Abraham) • Abraham’s grandson Jacobtook name “Israel” which means “God ruled” and organized Israelites into 12 tribes • Some tribes settled in Egypt (due to drought and famine) and where subjected to Pharaoh rule and slavery

8. The story of Abram • Abram ‘Exalted father’ lived in Iraq. • He had a vision from God that he should move and create a great nation of people. • Abram left home and walked into history along with maybe a 1,000 followers.

9. Abram undertook a huge journey across the Middle East from modern day Iraq to Israel. The names were different then, with the land being called ‘Mesopotamia’. • He travelled far and wide. • He fought off hostile peoples.

10. Abram was puzzled. God had said he would father a nation but he was childless. His wife-Sarai- was 75! How was God’s Will to happen? • Sarai suggested that Abram had a child with another woman. This arrangement was allowed by law in cases where a couple were childless. The child would be treated as their own. • Abram selected Hagar, their Egyptian maid. The resulting child was called Ishmael and was heir to Abram. • Abram was now told by God to change his name to Abraham ‘father of a multitude’.

11. At this point the unbelievable happened and Sarai herself fell pregnant! • The resulting child was called Isaac. Sarai changed her name to Sarah. • There was now a conflict of inheritance. Sarah was determined on Isaac being the true heir. • Sarah persuaded Abraham to abandon Hagar and Ishmael in the desert to die of thirst. • Isaac married Rebekah and one of his children was called Jacob. Jacob later became known as ‘Israel’ and the people after him became known as ‘Israelis’.

12. Hagar and Ishmael did not die in the desert however. Hagar was visited by an angel after running frantically to find water. The angel showed her a well and they both survived. Ishmael is regarded as the Father of the Arab nations.Muslims call Abraham ‘Ibrahim’.

13. Hagar’s searching in the desert is commemorated in the Muslim Hajj where pilgrims walk up and down a huge corridor between the great Mosque and the well at Zamzam. • The great corridor where, even today, Muslim pilgrims re-enact Hagar’s frantic search for water.

14. The Same Father!!! Abraham Abraham Sarah-Hebrew Hagar-Egyptian • Isaac-Hebrew Ishmael-Arab • Mosses- 1st Covenant-Ten Commandments Mohammad • Old Testament-Torah Quran • Jews-Judaism Islam Yahweh Allah Jesus (Jew)-2nd Covenant The Apostles Old and New Testament G-d

15. Judaism • Judaism predates Christianity – it is the foundation of Christianity but is not a part of it • Jesus was Jewish, as were his followers and the Apostles • Jews do not believe that Jesus was anything more than a good and wise man who lived and died 2000 years ago – Jews still await their messiah • The Jewish messiah would not be divine. He would be a political figure who restores the Hebrew monarchy and causes peace to reign on Earth • Jews are not concerned about salvation and the “world to come”

16. Moses • An illustrated story of Moses

17. Moses & Exodus: “Let My People Go!” • Moses received revelations from God: burning bush, rod / staff, 10 plagues, parting of the Red Sea • End of 13th century BCE- Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt during Ramses II reign called the EXODUS • Moses led the 12 Tribes of Israel to Mount Sinai where Yahweh gave him the 10 Commandments, uniting the Hebrews under one God • Moses and Hebrews searched for the “Promised Land” or the land of milk and honey, however they wandered in the desert for 40 years

18. Understanding Datelines • OLD WAY-BC (before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini – in the Year of Our Lord) • NEW WAY-BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era).

21. Kings of Israel • 1230 BCE, Israelites guided by Joshua, invaded Canaan (Promised Land) • 1020 BCE: first king of Israelites was Saul, then David, then Solomon • Under King David the Israelites captured city of Jerusalem • King Solomon built the Temple of Jerusalem, to house the Arc of the Covenant (sacred box to hold Torah) • Solomon’s Temple was destroyed during Babylonian invasion, rebuilt in 6th century BCE, and destroyed again in 70 CE by the Romans • Only remaining part of Solomon’s Temple is the Western Wall

22. Lost Tribes of Israel • After the death of Solomon, Kingdom of Israel split into two (north= Israel; south= Judah) • Israel was conquered by Assyrians in 722 BCE and the scattered people were known as the ‘Lost Tribes of Israel’ • Judah was eventually destroyed by Babylon in 586 BCE and inhabitants were held in captivity (called the Exile or Babylonian Captivity) • Emergence of synagogues and rabbis during Exile • Released by Persians in 538 BCE and returned to Jerusalem to rebuild temple

23. Diaspora • Diaspora is a Greek word meaning “sowing of seed” or “dispersal” which refers to Jewish population living outside of Israel • In 332 BCE, Jewish people in fell under Hellenization (Greek culture) as Alexander the Great conquered Persia, Egypt and India • 164 BCE, group of Jews called the Maccabees revolted against Greek rule, took control of Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple to God (Hanukkah) • 64 BCE, Jerusalem fell to Romans and the Kingdom of Judah became one of the provinces of the Roman Empire (Judea). The people living there were called Judeans, and it is from this word that we get the word Jew • In 66 CE the people of Judea revolted against Rome. This uprising was crushed and the temple was destroyed for a second time in 70 CE • Despite the dispersion of Jewish people throughout Europe after 70 CE, their culture and religious beliefs have been by far the most influential of all the ancient cultures of the Near East

24. Impact of Ancient Israel • Covenant = formal agreement between Hebrews and God (Yahweh); Hebrews worshipped God and only God, and in return, they would be God’s Chosen People and given Canaan as the Promised Land • Spiritual ideas profoundly influenced Western culture, morality, ethics and conduct • Three of the world’s most dominant religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam all derive their roots from the spiritual beliefs of the Ancient Israelites

25. Hanukkah Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, and may occur from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar. According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate fresh olive oil.